Vegetable-topping machine.



G. P. BAKER.

VEGETABLE TOPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED my 25,1911.

1,1 10,370, Patented Sept. 15, 191i 2 SHEETS8HBET 1.

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C. P. BAKER.

VEGETABLE TOPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25,1911.

1,1 10,370. Patented Sept; 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,; PHOTO LITHOH WASHINGTON. By C CHARLES IE. BAKER, 0F PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

VEGETABLE-TOPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patented Sept. 15, 1914:.

Application filed. May 25, 1911. Serial No. 629,317.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES P. BAKER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Painesville, in the county. of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vegetable-Topping Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to improvements in vegetable topping machinery, and has for its object the provision of mechanism which is cheap in construction, and adapted to remove the tops from vegetables, such as onions, beets, and the like. 1 I. Prior machines of thisgeneral character have required the provision of two or more cooperating rollers, optionally provided with cutting edges, or a spiral-bladed rotary member associated with a stationary metallic cutting edge. I have discovered, however, that somewhat analogous but more efficient mechanism may be constructed by employing a straight-bladed rotary member, in association with a non-rotatable,

semi-resilient member against which the tops may be expeditiously broken or scraped from the bulb of the vegetable. Thisdiscovery is based upon the fact that onion tops are most expeditiously severed by striking them a sharp rapid blow when resting against a substantially stationary wooden surface. Moreover,the vegetable tops may be readily drawn intoposition for operating thereon, by means of a strong v current of air. The bladed member in my machine, accordingly is provided with means for 'very rapidly rotating the same, in order to se-. cure a suction effect by means of the relatively wide blades or fans, thereby drawing the tops of the vegetables into position for severing the same. I may also provide separate means for agitating or rocking the receptacle for the vegetables, to assist in the topping operation.

Further details of my improved construction may be more readily explained in con nection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of my improved vegetable topping machine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the lower end. and Fig. 3 a similarly enlarged detail of the upper end ofsaid machine; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rotary bladed member; Fig. 5 is an end view of a slightly modified form of my improved vegetable topping machine; Fig.6 is an enlarged detail of a modification thereof affording double capacity for topping; Fig. 7 is aIlBIld'ViQW illustrating principally the driving mechanism of the machine shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 is a detail of the machineof Fig. 6.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the same character 5 of reference to indicate similar parts. A description of the features of one of these machines will applyla'rgely to each of the others, and I mayrefer first to Fig. 1, which showsa single vegetable topping machine mounted in inclined position upon the supporting frame a. A rotary-bladed member I), provided with renewableand relatively wide blades 0, is mounted in journal bearings 6. at either end of the frame. This rotary member is adapted to be rapidly driven by means of the gears 07 and df and may well be propelled by hand or any suitable power connection. A tilting cover or casing e is superposed above the rotary-bladed member, while a semi-resilient member, such as wooden block f, having a beveled face, is positioned opposite the bladed member '6 against which the straight blades are adapted to strike or rub along its lower edge for about three-quarters of an inch. A fiat spring 9 and coil springs it within end housings h, yieldingly hold the member f in position, whichmay be adjusted by means of theset-screws z, i. -Baffle strips f may be provided upon the inclined face of member f,- and a hopper y" suitably supported upon the frame, [may be advantageously posi tioned at one side of the machine for supplying vegetables to be topped. a

' The general construction of the machine in Fig. 5 will now be quite apparent, but, inaddition, I have provided a sheet-metal member 70 attached to the wooden strip f, which is adapted to be constantly rocked by means of the eccentric 7c and its connecting rod 70 By reason of the constant and rapid impact of the straight blades 0 against the' member f during the rapid tation of the former, there will necessarily be considerable vibration, but by the provision of the means above shown the vegetables will be more efi'ectually agitatedand thus cause them to present their tops for severing the same from the bulbs.

In the double-acting machine shown -1n Fig. 6, with the detail in Fig. 8, the curved,

lateral members k 7: are provided upon either side and a wooden strip Z is associated mitting the same to be more easily driven and taking up the end-thrust of this inclined member.

The operation of thesemachines may now be briefly referred to. When, through the medium of the train of gears, rapid rotary motion is imparted tothe fiat-bladed member 6,.the straight andrelatively'wide blades thereon will act as fans and causeasuction tending to draw the tops of the vegetables through the longitudinal slot inthe machine. This action is assisted, as well, by the natural vibration caused by the blades 0 rapidly striking against the members f and Z and as the vegetables roll down the in clined slotted receptacle therefor, the tops will be caught between the blades and the opposing wooden members, and scraped or. broken 01?, after which the vegetables will naturally fall into a basket or other receptacle provided at the end of the machine.

By providing a wooden or other semi-resilient strip against which the blades may strike, not only is the severing of the "tops better accomplished, but thecost .of ,manufacture and renewal is much less than if a: metallic co-acting part were employed. Again, if the wooden strip is not perfectly straight initially, it will soon be worn into conformity with the blades, by their rapid impact against the same and the adjustment may readily be effected within the end housings by means of the adjustment screws and springs. The strip ,Z may also be resiliently held in themanner shown, or in any approved manner and may be renewed when worn.

Having now described preferred embodiments of my improved vegetable topping machine, I claim as new, and desire to secnre y Letters P tent, the following:

1. In a vegetable topping machine, the

tion of the rotary member, means for rapidly rotating said member, a non-rotatable, semi-resilient member agalnst Wl11Cl1 the blades-are adapted successively to strike during their rotation and a spring-mounting yieldingly holding the said parts-in position for engagement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a vegetable topping machine, the combination with a rotary member, 01": a plurality of straight wide blades provided thereon toinsure a fan-like action, a train of gears for rapidly rotating said member, a casing partially inclos'ing said member, a non-rotatable, semi-resilient member against which the'blades are adapted to strike in succession during their rotation, and resilient adjusting means for the latter, substantially asset forth.

'3. In a vegetable topping machine, the combination with a rotary member, of a plurality of straight wide blades provided thereon to insure a'fandike action, a train of gears for rapidly rotating said member, a casing partially inc'losing said member affording means for supporting the vegetables abovethe blades,5and plurality of non-rotatable, semi-resilient members positioned at opposite sides of the machine and adapted to be successively engaged by each of the blades during their rotation, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a weight tapping machine, the combination with a rotary member, a plurality of blades thereon, means for driving said member, a casing or cover positioned over said member, an adjustable co-acting part against which the blades are adapted to strike, a sheet-metal receptacle, and means for rocking the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

'5. In a vegetable topping machine, the combination with a rotary member provided with a plurality of blades of a train of gears for rapidly rotating said member, a casing partially inclosin'g said member from above and adapted to support the vegetables, and non-rotatable co-act'ing parts provided on either side thereof, whereby the capacity of the machine may be increased, substantially asset forth;

6. In a vegetable topping machine, the combination with a series of straight rotatable blades, of a n'on-rotatable, semi-resilient member against which the said blades are adapted successively to strike during their rotation, a spring-mountingyieldingly holding the said partsin position ,for engagement, means. for supporting the vegetables adjacent to the blades, and means for rapidly rotating said blades, substantially as set forth.

7. In a vegetable topping machine, the combination with a rotary member provided with a plurality of continuous fan-like blades, of a semi-resilient Wooden member against the edge of which said bladesa're adapted to strike during theirrotation, an adjustable spring mountlng therefor, means co-aeting With said Wooden-member for supporting the vegetables adjacent to the blades,

and means for rapidly driving said rotary 1 member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES P. BAKER.

V Witnesses:

N. G. FERRIs, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for in cents each, by sddressin: the "Commissioner otlstents. Washington, D. G."

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,110,370, granted September 15,1914, upon the application of Charles P. Baker, of Painesville, Ohio, for an improvement in Vegetable-Topping Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 99, for the words Weight tapping read vegetable topping," and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of October, A. D., 1914.

R. F. WHITEI-IEAD,

[SEAL] Aofi/ng Commissioner of Patents. 

